Cisse – Senegal ‘up against brick wall’ going into must-win WC match with Qatar
Qatar and Senegal go head-to-head in a crucial World Cup 2022 group stage clash after both sides lost their opening fixtures. The tournament hosts slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador on the opening day of the competition whilst Senegal conceded two late goals to lose to the Netherlands by the same scoreline.
Victory for either side will keep them in touch of a place in the knockout rounds but the loser of today’s game is out of the tournament with one more group match yet to play. Should Qatar triumph this afternoon it would be a huge blow for the African champions who are still reeling from the absence of Sadio Mane due to injury.
Yet, Senegal will fancy their chances of defeating Qatar and keeping themselves in the hunt for a spot in the knockout phases. They at least looked worthy of a draw against the Netherlands, until those late goals, while the hosts were poor from first whistle to last against Ecuador.
Qatar have never beaten African opponents, losing twice to Algeria and once to Egypt in their three attempts, and on Sunday failed to have a shot on target against Ecuador. If they have any hopes of remaining in the competition then they need to drastically improve on their first performance.
Follow all the action from our live blog below:
Qatar 0-0 Senegal
9 mins: A driving run from Akram Afif excites the Qatari crowd as he storms down the left wing. A squared pass inside gives the ball to Abdelkarim Hassan who miscontrols it and allows Senegal to poke it back to Edouard Mendy in goal.
This has been a brighter start from Qatar though.
Shot! Sarr continues to cause problems out on the right. He pulls a cross into the middle but the ball comes bouncing out to Nampalys Mendy.
Mendy flicks it up and volleys an effort wide of the left-hand post.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 13:09
Qatar 0-0 Senegal
6 mins: Chance! The opening attack comes from Senegal as Sarr is given the ball on the right side of the pitch. He drives down the line before cutting into the box and shifting around a defender.
Sarr shoots from a tight angle as Assim Madibo gets across to deflect the effort into the side netting. The referee doesn’t see the deflection though and Qatar are awarded a goal kick.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 13:05
Qatar 0-0 Senegal
3 mins: A crossfield pass comes over to the right wing where Youssouf Sabaly has pushed high up the pitch for Senegal.
He decides to nod it up the byline in an attempt to get Ismaila Sarr in behind but the forward is held in check and the ball bounces out for a goal kick.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 13:03
Kick off: Qatar 0-0 Senegal
The host get the ball rolling and send it long down the left wing. The ball is intercepted and Senegal take over possession. The pass it into midfield but a well-timed tackle from Karim Boudiaf wins the ball back for Qatar.
Nice start from the midfielder.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 13:01
Qatar vs Senegal
Here come the teams. They stride out onto the pitch before the national anthems are played.
Qatar would become the first ever host nation to get knocked out of the World Cup after two games if they lose today.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:55
Qatar vs Senegal
The fans have arrived at the Al Thumama Stadium ahead of kick off at 1pm.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:50
World Cup 2022: Qatar vs Senegal
On the sixth day of the World Cup, the best of a continent will probably be lost. Senegal against Qatar pits the African Cup of Nations winners against the Asian Cup champions. The loser may be eliminated with a game to go and less than a week of the tournament played. The possibility is that officially the best sides in two huge confederations will not figure in the World Cup’s last 16.
“It is two teams up against a wall,” Senegal manager Aliou Cisse said. “We are talking about two champions, the Asian champions and the African champions, and you can imagine the importance. If you lose your opening game, you are up against a brick wall. However, we do have experience under our belts and we have played other difficult games under the same level of stress and intensity. We know we need to knuckle down and pull everything together to pull out that win.”
Qatar vs Senegal big match preview by Richard Jolly
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:47
World Cup 2022: Qatar vs Senegal
Qatar want to prove they can compete at the highest level when they face Senegal, coach Felix Sanchez said on the eve of a clash that may thwart their World Cup hopes.
The Asian champions are hoping to avoid becoming only the second hosts to be eliminated in the first round at the finals after South Africa in 2010.
Qatar lost 2-0 to Ecuador in the opening game of the tournament after a disappointing performance, causing many fans to leave the stadium 20 minutes before the end.
“Hopefully we can play freely and without pressure and be better than what happened in the first game, this team have a point to prove,” Sanchez told a news conference.
“Matches are controlled by many factors, but the most important thing is to give our best, in the World Cup if you don’t give your best you will be punished.”
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:40
Qatar vs Senegal
Should this clash end in anything but a draw we will know who the first team to be knocked out of the World Cup is. Qatar and Senegal both lost their opening fixtures and are in danger of getting booted out of the tournament.
Defeat this afternoon for either team will see them resigned to that fate but victory would put them close to the knockout rounds.
Senegal come into the match as the big favourites especially after an decent performance against the Netherlands but Qatar have made some changes – including swapping out the goalkeeper – which they hope will provide more of a threat to the African champions.
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:32
Qatar vs Senegal line-ups
Qatar XI: Barsham; Miguel, Mohamad, Khoukhi, Hassan, Ahmad; Al-Haydos, Boudiaf, Madibo; Ali, Afif
Senegal XI: Mendy; Sabaly, Koulibaly, Jakobs, Diallo; Gueye, N. Mendy; Diatta, Diedhou, Sarr; Dia
Michael Jones25 November 2022 12:23
Kaynak: briturkish.com